Apparatus for attaching handles to paper bags



Sept. 8, 1964 F. E. HILTON 3,147,673

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HANDLES TO PAPER BAGS Filed April 16, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 4 F '9 5 //V VE N 7' 0R.

FRANK E. HILTON BY BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM a BLORE ATTORNEYS F. E. HILTON 3,147,673

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HANDLES T0 PAPER BAGS Sept. 8, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1962 IN VE N TOR.

FRANK E. HILTON BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8 BLORE ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1964 F. E. HILTON 3,147,673

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HANDLES TO PAPER BAGS Filed April 16, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. I4

INVENTOR FRANK E. HILTON BY BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM 8 BLORE ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1964 F. E. HILTON 3,147,673

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HANDLES TO PAPER BAGS Filed April 16, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FRANK E. HILTON BY BUCKHORN, CHEATHAM a BLORE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,147,673 APPARATUS FQR ATTACHMG HANDLES T0 PAPER BAGS Frank E. Hilton, Portland, Greg, assignor to Package Containers Inc, Portland, Greg, a corporation of (iregen Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,706 8 Claims. (til. 93S) The present invention relates to a new and improved handled bag and to methods and apparatus for making the same.

One of the objects of the present invention is to pro vide a paper bag having a loop type handle secured to one outer surface of the bag.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a paper bag having a handle secured thereon and the bag so constructed that the handle can be utilized to effect closure of the bag while in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bag construction that will permit ready attachment of the handle on simple fast operating automatic apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved methods for attaching a handle to a bag.

A still further object is to provide new and improved apparatus for attaching handles to paper bags.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved apparatus for doubling upon itself a handle strap and attaching the same to the outer surface of a bag.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent hereinafter.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of apparatus made in accordance with the invention, the paper bag to which a handle is attached is fed in flattened condition open end first along a predetermined path of travel.

A length of strap handle to be secured to the bag is fed at right angles towards said path and a strip of adhesive applied to the trailing end portion of said strap. Means are provided to fold the strap upon itself so as to form a long leg and a short leg, with the short leg overlying approximately one half of the adhesive portion. Further means are provided to apply the strap to the desired position on the bag and to press the exposed adhesive portion of the longer leg to the adjacent outer surface of the bag thus to secure the strap to the bag.

The bag itself is provided with two pairs of registering notches in the opposed side walls of the bag so that the bag may be folded transversely to position all of the slots in registry and through which registering slots the handle may be thrust to secure the overfolded portion of the bag in position, closing the bag.

For a more detailed description of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bag of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View of the bag in its fiat folded condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views showing the method for attaching the handle to a bag in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 are schematic elevations of apparatus made in accordance with the invention showing the same in different cycles of operation thereof;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line lit-13 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 1414 of FIG. 9.

Referring first to FIGURES l to 3, the invention is illustrated in connection with a square bottom type bag 3t) having opposite flat side walls 32, 34 which lie adjacent one another in the flat folded condition of the bag as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Secured to the wall 34 is a handle 36 comprising a flexible strap material which preferably is an edge folded paper strap such as shown in Crary Patent No. 2,499,463.

As is most clearly shown in FIG. 3, the handle 36 is transversely folded upon itself to define a long leg 38 and a short leg 40 which is secured at its end portion to the long leg 38 by suitable means such as an adhesive indicated at 42. The end portion of the leg 38 extending beyond the end of the leg 40 is secured to the bag Wall 34 by an adhesive indicated at 44.

Each of the walls 32, 34 has a pair of vertically spaced slots 46, 48 therein, the slots of one wall registering with those of the other. The walls 32, 34 are also provided with a transverse score line 49 spaced medially between the slots 46, 48 along which the end of the bag may be overfolded as shown in FIG. 1 to place all of the slots in the bag walls in registry.

A bag is supplied to the user in the fiat folded condition shown in FIG. 2. After the bag has been opened and filled, the end portion of the bag is folded upon the score line 48 whereafter the loop defined in the end of the handle may be inserted through the registering slots so as to provide thereby a carrying handle which at the same time holds the bag in the closed condition as may be seen in FIG. 1.

The advantages of maintaining the bag closed and the simplicity of the arrangement described for so doing will be obvious. However, the form of the handle described has other advantages which are less obvious and which advantages reside in the fact that the arrangement of the bag and handle just described permit the handle to be attached to the bag economically with high speed mechanical equipment. These advantages will become more apparent from the method and apparatus of the invention which will now be described.

Referring next more particularly to FIGS. 4 to 6 in accordance with the method of the invention the flat folded bag 30 to which a handle is to be attached is fed open end first along a predetermined path of travel in the direction indicated in FIG. 4. A length of strap handle 36 is fed at right angles to said path and a coating of adhesive 5t) applied to the trailing end portion of the strap on the surface facing the approaching bag. The strap 36 is then folded transversely as indicated in FIG. 5 to bring the advancing end of the strap into overlapping arrangement upon the adhesive 50 and form the strap into the doubled condition with the long leg 38 and short leg 40. Thereafter the strap is pressed against the bag surface as shown in FIG. 6 to secure the exposed adhesive coated portion of the strap leg 38 to the bag.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 7 to 13, inclusive, suitable apparatus for performing the method above described and for manufacturing bags of the invention is therein illustrated schematically. Details of the supporting frame work for the apparatus and drive connections for the various mechanisms have been omitted from the drawings since suitable conventional apparatus for performing these functions will be obvious to persons skilled in the bag making art. Thus, to simplify the description of the invention and make easier the understanding thereof, the description will be limited to the pertinent and novel portions of the apparatus which comprise the instant invention.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment means are provided for feeding a flat folded bag 30 open end first, between a pair of compression rollers 60, 62, such means comprising a suitable conveyor 64 onto which bags may be fed one by one at predetermined intervals by any suitable bag feeding mechanism (not shown). The bags v.19 may be prepunched with the openings 46, 48, but means may be provided adjacent the conveyor 64 for punching the bags, such means being indicated at 66 and comprising a pair of verticallyreci-procable punches 68 actuated by suitable mechanism synchronized with the conveyor 64 to descend and punch openings in the bag as it travels beneath the punch mechanism and thereafter raise to permit the bag to continue its path of travel along the conveyor 64. Any conventional punching mechanism and synchronizing drive means may be utilized. From the conveyor 64 the bags are fed onto a second conveyor including a chain 65 having a bag engaging dog 67 moving in timed relation to the roller 60. The bag is supported on a pair of rails 69 positioned on opposite sides of and slightly above the chain 65 (see FIG. 14).

Means are provided for feeding a length of handle strap at right angles to the path of travel of the bag 36 immediately ahead of the rollers 60, 62. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention such means comprises a pair of opposed rollers or drive Wheels 7 which may be driven by any suitable means such as a motor 72 to draw a strap from a suitable supply thereof and which may comprise a supply roll 74 of preformed strap. It is to be understood, however, that the strap may be simultaneously formed upon the apparatus with conventional strap forming means. From the rollers 70 the strap is fed downwardly past adhesive applying means including a backup wheel 76. Suitably supported opposite the wheel 76 is a pan78 containing a supply of adhesive. Rotatably mounted so that its lower portion is immersed in the adhesive is a transfer wheel 80 for transferring adhesive to a sectorwheel 82 which is mounted upon a rotating shaft 84 so that the sector wheel may roll upon the strap 36 as it passes the wheel 76. The sector wheel 82 is provided with an arcuate surface portion 86 adapted to pick up a layer of adhesive from the transfer wheel 36 and to apply such adhesive to the surface of the strap 36 when the sector 86 rolls in contact therewith as shown in FIG. 8. While pre-cut lengths of strap may be fed downwardly through the rollers 70, preferably the strap fed thereto is of a continuous length and the sector wheel 82 is provided with a cutting knife 88 adapted to engage the strap and sever the desired length therefrom, the point of severance being immediately above the adhesive coated portion so that the adhesive is upon the trailing end of the length of strap. From the wheel 76 the strap is fed downwardly through a guide 96. Preferably, in order to insure proper feeding of measured strap lengths through the guide 90, the knife 88 is slightly narrower than the strap so that the strap is not completely severed thereby but can be pulled free when tension is applied thereto in a manner to be described.

Means are provided for intercepting the lower end of the strap 36 as it approaches the path of travel of the bag 30 and bending it in the direction opposite the direction of movement of the bag. In the illustrated apparatus such means comprises a trough-like element 94 mounted upon arms 96 for swinging movement towards and away from the roller 60, suitable drive means being provided to time such swinging movement in timed relation with the feeding of the strap 36. As shown in FIG. 8, as the lower or advancing edge of the strap 36 moves past the roller 60 and towards the path of the bag 30, the trough 94 is in a position forwardly towards'the roller 66 so as to engage the lower end of the strap. As the feeding of the strap 36 continues downwardly the trough 94 swings backwardly as shown in FIGS. 9 and carrying the lower end of the strap with it thus moving the lower strap end in a direction opposite to the direction in which the bag 30 is moving. -As mostclearly shown in FIG. 8, as the strap approaches the trough 94 it is fed between the roller 60 and a finger or rod 98, the purpose of which will be explained subsequently.

Means are provided for folding the strap transversely upon itself and for applying the folded strap to the bag and which means will now be described. The roller 60 is provided with a transverse notch 166 in its periphery and which notch is formed with a substantially radial wall 102. Extending into the notch is a dog or clamp arm 104 pivotally mounted at 106-upon the roller 60 so that the dog can be moved toward and away from the wall 192. Mounted upon the opposite end of the arm is a roller 108 comprising a cam follower which rides upon the surface of a cam 116 which is fixedly mounted adjacent the roller 60 by any suitable means. A spring 112 is provided to bias the dog 104 toward the wall 102. As will be apparent from FIGS. 7 to 12 the cam 110 is formed so as to permit the spring 112 to bias the dog 104 towards the wall 102 in certain positions of the roller 60, while in other positions of rotation of the roller 60 the dog is forced away from the notch surface 102, the purpose of which movement will become apparent.

The strap 36 and roller 66 are so timed that the notch 10%) rolls into engagement with the strap 36 at a point between the midpoint of the strap and the advancing edge thereof spaced from said strap midpoint by a distance substantially equal to one half the length of the adhesive layer 56. Mounted on the opposite side of the strap 36 with relation to the roller 60 is a tucker element comprising an arm 114 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 116 driven in timed relation to the roller 60. The arm 114 is provided with a thin, offset end portion 118 (see FIG. 13) which is adapted to engage the strap as shown in FIG. 9 and force the opposing portion of the strap into the notch between the wall 162 and the dog 104. As indicated in FIG. 9 the cam 110 is relieved in such a manner that at this point in the rotation of the roller 60 and for the next quarter revolution the dog 164 is free to rotate towards the wall 102 under the bias of the spring 112. As the compression roller 60 continues to rotate from the position shown in FIG. 9, the tucker arm end portion 118 is withdrawn from the strap which remains engaged between the dog 164 and the notch side wall 102 so that the strap is drawn doubled end first towards the nip of the compression rollers 66, 62.

The roller 60 is driven so that its periphery travels at a faster rate than the rate of feed of the strap 36 between the feed rolls 7%, thus as the strap is engaged by the compression roller 66 and pulled downwardly, the tension applied to the strap by the compression roller 66 will cause it completely to sever from the continuous length of strap being fed through the rollers 70.

As the trailing end portion and longer leg 38 of the strap is pulled downwardly by the compression roller 60, it is swung outwardly as shown in FIG. 10, and against the finger 98 which holds such end of the strap upwardly and prevents it from striking the end of the trough 94. It will be apparent that if the end portion of the leg 38 werepermitted to strike the trough that adhesive would be wiped off upon the end of the trough and which adhesive would then be wiped upon the back side of the next descending strap portion and which is not desired because such adhesive would cause the backside or surface of the shorter leg to adhere to the bag to which it is applied. While small amounts of adhesive are wiped from the longer leg 38 upon the finger 93 it is found that it is an insignificant amount and creates no problem other than requiring the finger to be cleaned very occasionally.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 11 and 12, the compression rollers 60, 62 and the conveyor 65 are driven in timed relation so that the bag 36 being fed by the conveyor is fed between the rollers simultaneously with the strap 36 so that the strap is applied to the desired position upon the surface of the bag. As the bag and the strap thereupon pass between the nip of the compression rollers 60, 62, the exposed end portion of the longer strap leg 38 will be pressed upon the surface of the bag so that the adhesive upon such strap end portion will cause the strap to adhere to the bag wall.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 11, as the notch 16% rolls into contact with the roller 62, the surface of the cam 110 rises so as to pivot the dog 104 away from the notch wall 102 releasing the portion of the strap which has been held within the notch. The dog 104 is held from the wall 102 through about the next three quarters revolution of the roller 60.

After rolling from between the compression rollers 66, 62 the bag and the attached handle may be conveyed by other apparatus to packaging machinery or fed upon a stack indicated at 122 or handled in any other desired manner.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated the length of the tucker arm 114 is only one half the radius of the compression roller 60 and hence so that the tucker may have the same peripheral speed as the roller 60 it must make two revolutions for every revolution of the compression roller 60. Accordingly, the compression roller 60 is provided with a notch 124 on the surface thereof opposite the notch 1% and into which the tucker arm end 118 may extend in its idling revolution and which position it is approaching in FIG. 12.

Preferably, a pair of guide shoes 126 are provided adjacent the surface of the conveyor 64 on opposite sides of the compression roller 60 to maintain the strap in alignment with the bag as they pass between the compression rollers 60, 62.

It will be obvious that the feed rolls 70, the sector wheel 82 and the compression rollers 60, 62, the conveyor 64, and the tucker arm 114 and associated apparatus all must be driven in timed relation so that the sequence of steps will take place in the manner described. Any conventional drive arrangement can be provided to attain this result and the provision thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it permits of modification in arrangement and detail. I claim as my invention all such modifications as come within the scope and pervue of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The method of attaching a strap handle to a bag which comprises:

feeding a bag along a predetermined path, providing a predetermined length of strap, applying a coating of adhesive of predetermined length to a surface of said strap at only one end thereof,

folding said strap lengthwise upon itself to bring the opposite end of said strap into partial overlapping relation upon said adhesive leaving the endmost portion of said adhesive exposed,

positioning said folded strap upon a surface of said bag with said adhesive coated strap surface facing said bag surface,

and applying pressure to said strap and bag to press said exposed adhesive against said bag surface.

2. The method of applying a strap handle to a bag which comprises:

providing a predetermined length of strap,

applying a coating of adhesive to one end surface portion only of said strap, folding said strap lengthwise to form a long leg including said adhesive coated surface portion and a short leg partially overlapping said surface portion leaving the endmost part of said adhesive exposed,

feeding said folded strap doubled end first along a path of travel,

and simultaneously feeding a fiat folded bag open end first along said path of travel so as to engage said exposed adhesive coated surface portion against a bag surface,

and pressing said exposed adhesive coated strap surface against said bag to secure said strap to said bag.

3. The method of attaching a strap handle to a bag which comprises:

providing a predetermined length of strap,

enemas 6 applying a coating of adhesive to one end surface portion only of said strap, gripping an intermediate portion of said strap and moving said intermediate portion along a given path of travel While applying pressure to the uncoated surface of said strap, said intermediate portion being spaced from the midpoint of said strap in the direction away from said end a distance equal to approximately one half the length of said adhesive coated portion whereby said strap will be folded upon itself as it moves along said path, feeding a bag along said path simultaneously with said strap so as to overlap said adhesive coated surface portion of said strap upon said bag and press ing the exposed adhesive coated portion of said strap against said bag to adhere said strap to said bag. 4. An apparatus for attaching a strap handle to a bag the combination comprising:

means for feeding a flat-folded bag along a predetermined path of travel,

means for feeding a length of strap toward said path,

means for applying an adhesive to a predetermined length of one surface of said strap adjacent one end thereof,

means for folding said length of strap transversely intermediate its ends to provide parallel legs of unequal length, whereby said adhesive is upon the surface of the longer leg and faces the other leg and said other leg overlaps about one half of said adhesive,

means for feeding said doubled strap parallel to said path of travel with said adhesive facing an outer surface of said bag,

and means for pressing the adhesive coated end portion of said one leg against the surface of said bag as it is fed along said path of travel.

5. An apparatus for attaching handles to bags,

a pair of parallel cooperating compression rollers,

means for driving said rollers,

means for feeding a flat, folded bag open end first fiat- Wise along the plane tangential to the nip of said rollers,

means for feeding a length of handle strap at right angles to said path immediately ahead of said rollers,

means for applying a coating of adhesive to the trailing end portion of said length of strap on the surface thereof facing away from said rollers,

means for folding said strap transversely upon itself to provide a long and a short leg with said adhesive coating upon the inwardly facing surface of said long leg and with said short leg overlapping said adhesive,

and means for feeding said folded strap between said rollers simultaneously with the passage of said bag therebetween and with said adhesive facing a surface of said bag whereby said strap will be adhered to said bag surface.

6. An apparatus for attaching handles to bags,

a pair of parallel cooperating compression rollers,

means for driving said rollers,

means for feeding a flat, folded bag open end first fiatwise along the plane tangential to the nip of said rollers,

means for feeding a length of handle strap at right angles to said path immediately ahead of said rollers,

means for applying a coating of adhesive to the trailing end portion of said length of strap on the surface thereof facing away from said rollers,

means on the roller on the side of said path approached by said strap adapted to grip a portion of said strap,

means to engage said strap surface and press said strap toward said roller,

means for driving said strap engaging means, said rollers and said strap feeding means whereby said strap engaging means engages said strap between its midpoint and the advancing end portion thereof to press said strap into said strap gripping means,

means to engage the advancing end portion of said strap and bend it in-the direction opposite the direction of movement of said bag,

whereby rotation of said strap holding roller will cause said strap to double upon itself,

said bag feeding means and said rollers being driven in timed relation whereby said bag and said strap are carried simultaneously between said rollers to press said adhesive coated endportion of said strap against the facing surface of said bag to adhere said strap to said bag,

and means to effect release of said strap gripping means as said gripping means moves away from said plane.

7. An apparatus for attaching handles to bags,

a pair of parallel cooperating compression rollers,

means for driving said rollers,

means for-feeding a flat, folded bag open end first flatwise along the plane tangential to the nip of said rollers,

means for feeding a length of handle strap at right angles to said path immediately ahead of said rollers,

means for applying a coating of adhesive to the trailing end portion of said length of strap on the surface thereof facing away from said rollers,

the roller on the side of said path approached by said strap having a notch in the periphery thereof, a dog pivotally mounted on said roller for movement toward and away from one surface of said notch,

means to engage said strap surface and tuck an intermediate portion of said strap into said notch,

means to urge said dog toward said surface to engage the tucked portion of said strap thereagainst, said tucked portion being between the midpoint of said strap and the advancing end portion thereof,

means to engage the advancing end portion of said strap and bend it in the direction opposite the direction of movement of said bag,

whereby rotation of said strap roller will cause said strap to double upon itself,

said bag feeding means and said rollers being driven in timed relation whereby said bag and said strap are carried simultaneously between said rollers to press said adhesive coated end portion of said strap against the facing surface of said bag to adhere said strap to said bag,

and means to move said dog away from said notch surface effect release of said strap as said notch moves away from said plane. 8. An apparatus for doubling a length of strap comprising:

a pair of compression-rollers,

means for driving said rollers,

'eans for feeding a length of strap in front of said rollers and at right angles to the plane of the nip of said rollers,

one of said rollers having a notch in the periphery thereof formed with a substantially radial face,

a dog pivotally mounted on said one roller for pivotal movement of one end thereof toward and away from said notch face,

spring means urging said dog towards said face,

the opposite end of said dog comprising a cam follower,

a cam mounted adjacent said one roller for engage- V ment by said cam follower,

said cam being arranged to hold said dog away from said notch face during rotation of said roller from passage of said notch into engagement with the other of said rollers through substantially three quarters of a revolution and to permit said dog to move toward said notch face under the urging of said spring through the next quarter revolution of said one roller,

and means for tucking an intermediate portion of said strap into said notch between said notch face and said dog when the same is urged against said face whereby said tucked portion will be carried between said rollers to fold said strap upon itself.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,468 Winkler et al. Oct. 25, 1932 2,060,450 Steen Nov. 10, 1936 2,060,451 Steen Nov. 10, 1936 2,090,308 Potdevin Aug. 17, 1937 2,221,617 teen Nov. 12, 1940 2,248,895 Parrish July 8, 1941 2,635,510 Grant Apr. 21, 1953 2,775,171 'Steen et al. Dec. 25, 1956 2,844,075 Davis et al July 22, 1958 2,854,185 Steen Sept. 30, 1958 2,955,740 Finke Oct. 11, 1960 3,034,409 Finke et al. May 15, 1962 

1. THE METHOD OF ATTACHING A STRAP HANDLE TO A BAG WHICH COMPRISES: FEEDING A BAG ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH, PROVIDING A PREDETERMINED LENGTH OF STRAP, APPLYING A COATING OF ADHESIVE OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH TO A SURFACE OF SAID STRAP AT ONLY ONE END THEREOF, FOLDING SAID STRAP LENGTHWISE UPON ITSELF TO BRING THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID STRAP INTO PARTIAL OVERLAPPING RELATION UPON SAID ADHESIVE LEAVING THE ENDMOST PORTION OF SAID ADHESIVE EXPOSED, POSITIONING SAID FOLDED STRAP UPON A SURFACE OF SAID BAG WITH SAID ADHESIVE COATED STRAP SURFACE FACING SAID BAG SURFACE, AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO SAID STRAP AND BAG TO PRESS SAID EXPOSED ADHESIVE AGAINST SAID BAG SURFACE. 